Fire-escape



2 Sheets-Sheet 1,

(No Medal.)

W. R. PRICE.

FIRE ESCAPE. No. 318,391. Patented May 19, 1885.

Fig. 1. Fig. 2.

WITNESSES; INVENTOR:

1 14/6V24 a @000 ammw/ By CAM/3a Attorney.

N. PETERS. PhuwUlhngr-aphur, Wnhingtan. D. C-

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

W. R. PRICE.

FIRE ESCAPE.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

54$44h61 M G1 fl I Aflbrne'y.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC' Z O \VILLIAM R. PRICE, OF STILL PON D, MARYLAND.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 318,391, dated May 19, 1885.

(No model.)

To ttZZ- whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, \VILLIAM R. PRICE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Still Pond, in the county of Kentand State of Mary land, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a fire-escape for buildings; and it consists in certain novel combinations of parts and novel features of construction, which will first be described, and then designated in the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation, showing the sectional ladder in position for use. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same, the building-wall being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation ofa building-wall,inside view,showing the position of the rope as itpasses through the floors and the Windlass on each floor. Fig. 4 shows two pieces of ladder-rail provided with the slides. Fig. 5 is a front view of one section ofthe ladder, showing a hinged platform folded against it. Fig. 6 is an edge view of two sections of the ladder and a hinged platform between them. Fig. 7 shows an edge View of the ends of two ladder-sections and the stop device. Fig. 8 shows the ropecoupling device.

Briefly stated, the fire-escape consists of a ladder made in sections which slide on each other, the upper section being jointed and supported in a suitable manner to the front wall of the building, windlass within the building, and a sectional rope leading from one w-indlass to the lowermost ladder-section, by which arrangement the ladder, when not in use, may be folded and supported at an elevated position on the building-wall, and when desired for use may be lowered by a person within the building and from any floor thereof.

The letter A designates the rails of the lad der, which has rungs b. The ladder is made in short lengths or sections, so as to occupy, when folded, as little vertical space as possible. Each section of ladder has on the top or bottom of its rails either a T-shaped tongue, 0, (see Fi 4,) or a corresponding-shaped groove, (1, in which the T-shaped tongue may slide. Vhere the tongue is on one section, the

groove must be on the adjoining one. By this means, as will be readily understood, one section may slide lengthwise of another section. The tongue and groove constitute at once a slide and a connection. Thelower endofeach section has a lug, c, projecting at each side. This lug may be formed, as here shown, by a head on the end of the lowermost rung, I). The upper end of each section has a right-angled plate, a, one arm, 0", of which laps over on the rail of the adjoining section, and is in position to take over the lug c thereon, as seen in Fig. 7. This lug and right-angled plate constitute the stop device to prevent the two sections from separating orsliding apart.

A platform consists of two rails,B,connccted by eross-rodsf, upon which is a covering of woven wire, 1'. One end of the platform has two suitable irons, f}, by which it ishinged to the lowermost rung, b, of one ladder-section. (See Figs. 5 and 6.) The width of the platform is less than that of the ladder, whereby the platform may take position against the ladder-rungs and between the two rails. By this construction the hinged platform may be folded against the section of ladder to which it is hinged, and then this section may he slid lengthwise on the other or nextupper adjoining section, thereby bringing the said platform between the two sections, as shown. The free end of each platform has one or two rings or eyes, 72, which, when the platform is horizontal, take over or engage with pins or hooks h, attached to the window-sill.

In order to raise the hinged platform from its horizontal position and fold it against the ladder, a rope, 11, has one end attached to the free end of the platform, and then passes over an upper rung on the same ladder-section, and thence down. 13y drawing on the lower end, i, of this rope the free end of the platform will be released from the pins 01' hooks h on the sill, and the platform will take the position shown in Fig. 6. By means of this platform, when it is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the sectional ladder is securely stayed or braced, and persons may pass thereon from the window C of the building to the ladder. A suitable ladder-support, D, projects at the front of the wall E of the building. To this support the topmost laddersection is attached IOC : position to the ground.

in such manner as to form a joint, whereby the ladder may, when the sections are folded or slid together,hang vertically therefrom, resting against the wall E, or may, when the sections 5 are extended to the ground, have its lower end drawn away from the wall, as shown in Fig. 2. A pulley, k, is fixed in the building-wall above the ladder-support D, and a rope, F, has one end attached to the bottom of the low- 'crmost ladder-section (see Fig. 2) and passes up over the pulley 7G in the wall, and from thence down inside the building. Each floor G of the building has a hole or slot, 42, for the passage of the rope, so that the rope may pass down to the lower floor. A windlass or winding-crank, H, is attached to the wall above each floor, and the rope F passes do wh alongside of each windlass, and normally is connected only with the lowermost windlass.

2.; Each windlass on the several upper floors is 0 sections are joined together by a coupling de vice, p q. (See Figs. 3 and 9.) The arrange ment is such that when the ladder-sections are slid together and supported at an elevated position against the wall E, the rope F is the sole means which retains the ladder-sections in said elevated position, and when thus elevated one of the rope-coupling devices 9 1 will have position just above each windlass, as seenin Fig. 3. By this construction and com 40 bination of parts the elevated ladder may be lowered or extended to the ground at any time by a person on any floor of the building. To

lower theladder, it is only necessary for a person on one of the upper floors to take the end of the independent supply of rope F and connect the part 22 of the coupling device on said end with the coupling part g on the main rope F, and then disconnect from the same coupling part q that portion of the main rope which leads to the floor below. the connection of the rope F from the lowermost windlass to the windlass on any one of the upper floors the elevated ladder may be lowered by unwinding the independent sup ply of rope F.

Having described my invention, 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. The combination of a ladder made in sections which slide lengthwise on each other, a

ladder-support to which the topmost ladder is attached, a rope in sectionsjoined by a coupling device, and having one end attached to the lowermost ladder-section and passed up over an elevated pulley, and thence down, and two or more windlasses, one on each floor of a building, each provided with an independent supply of rope, F, for connection with the said sectional rope, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of a ladder made in seetious which slide lengthwise on each other, a platform hinged by one end to one of the ladder-sections, and a rope, i, having one end attached to the free end of the platform and passed over an upper rung on the ladder-see tion to which it is hinged, and thence down, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM R. PRICE.

\Vi tnesses:

JOHN E. Monnis, WM. 13. NnLsoN.

Having thus changed 50 

